Electrician Nashville: $50 to $110 an Hour + Metro Permits

Nashville rows from ConsumerAffairs; the national row is labeled. Permit fees are extra.

Do this now: an electrical problem in Nashville

1. Smoke, sparks or a burning smell: get out and call 911.
2. Power line down: NES says to assume it is live, stay at least 30 feet away and call 911.
3. Whole house out: check the NES outage line, 615-234-0000, before calling an electrician.
4. A breaker that trips again right after you reset it: leave it off and unplug what is on that circuit.
5. Water near the panel or outlets: stay out of the water and do not touch the panel.

Is it an emergency? Signs you need an electrician today

Sparks, a burning smell, a hot or buzzing panel, or a line down in the yard is an emergency; NES says to stay at least 30 feet from any fallen line and call 911. A breaker that keeps tripping, outlets that feel warm or lights that dim when the AC starts need a visit soon. One dead outlet or a flickering fixture can usually wait for a weekday. See emergency electrician and breaker keeps tripping.

Metro Nashville electrical permits

Metro Codes' permit list says moving a fixture, switch or outlet needs a permit, and so does increasing the size of the electrical service, which is what a panel upgrade usually involves. Attic fans and new or relocated smoke detectors need an electrical permit. Only licensed contractors with a Metro e-permit account can apply for an electrical trade permit online. Electrical inspections: 615-862-6560. The permit list was last revised in 2011, so confirm with Metro Codes for your job.

Who licenses electricians in Nashville?

Metro Nashville's Mechanical, Plumbing and Electrical Examiners and Appeals Board examines for the master electrician certificate, plus low-voltage and equipment installer licenses. The Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors licenses limited licensed electricians and contractors and runs a license search. ConsumerAffairs adds that Metro registration requires a $40,000 permit bond and at least $300,000 in general liability coverage, and that projects of $25,000 or more need a Tennessee contractor license as well. Call Metro Codes at 615-862-6500 to confirm a Metro certificate. State-by-state rules: electrician license by state.

Panel upgrades and older wiring in Nashville

Older homes are where most panel and wiring work happens: 140,542 of Nashville's 344,794 housing units (40.8%) were built before 1980, Census figures show. ConsumerAffairs puts a 200-amp panel upgrade in Nashville at $1,800 to $4,500 and whole-home rewiring at $8,000 to $20,000. Adding a heat pump, an EV charger or a big appliance to an older service is a common reason for an upgrade. Details: electrical panel upgrade.

Help for older homeowners

The Tennessee Housing Development Agency's Emergency Repair Program covers electrical repairs, along with roofs, plumbing and heating and cooling, for homeowners 60 or older or with a disability who have lived in the home 3 or more years. The lifetime maximum is $24,999, with no repayment and no lien.

Local rules, programs and conditions for Nashville, from official city, county, state, utility, Census and NOAA pages unless marked.

Questions to ask a Nashville electrician

1. What Metro certificate do you hold, and will you pull the electrical permit?
2. What is the service call fee? ConsumerAffairs lists $75 to $150 in Nashville.
3. Is the price per hour or flat for the job, and in writing?
4. Can I see proof of insurance?

More Nashville guides

AC and heat pump circuits: HVAC repair in Nashville. Flickering: lights flickering. Other cities: electrician in Charlotte and electrician in Houston. National prices: electrical repair. Calls go to an independent company that serves your area and takes this kind of job (how calls work).